Chapter 43 - 41、Bodhisattva
The graceful little monk was wearing white robes, standing under the moonlight, neither joyful nor sorrowful, embodying a Buddha-like essence.
The little monk looked at Chen Ji and said, "My name is Rochusaga, but everyone likes to call me ’little monk,’ and you can call me that too."
Princess Bai Li was perched on the wall, looking at Chen Ji as she introduced him, "The little monk is a reincarnated Bodhisattva, very impressive! He says you are impressive, so you must be!"
Chen Ji hesitated for a moment, "Is it so difficult for a reincarnated Bodhisattva to climb a wall?"
The little monk was slightly embarrassed, "I haven’t achieved enlightenment yet. My master urged me to recite the Ksitigarbha’s Vows one hundred thousand times, and I have just recited it more than seventy thousand times. My grand vows are also not yet fulfilled..."
Chen Ji pondered, the little monk’s statement revealed much information: the opponent’s cultivation path involved reciting scriptures and fulfilling grand vows, reciting a hundred thousand times was a hurdle, after which he should become somewhat more formidable.
It was quite frank of the other party to share his cultivation path like this.
At this moment, the Princely Heir curiously sized up Chen Ji, "Little monk, did you say he is formidable? He doesn’t look it."
The Princely Heir wasn’t wearing the fur coat from the daytime, but had changed into a black cross-collared long gown, embroidered with silver lotus flowers, which looked somewhat plain but seemed out of sync with the slightly extravagant Princely Heir.
The little monk flicked dust from his robes, his appearance clear at about fourteen or fifteen years, and pointed to his own heart, saying, "The impressiveness I speak of is not about strength, but the heart. Everyone has three thieves within their heart—greed, anger, and ignorance. This young man here has eliminated greed and anger from his heart, leaving only ignorance, which is already quite formidable."
"Greed represents unbearable desire, the cause of many calamities in this world. To not be greedy is not to eschew wealth but to know restraint."